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How to Quilt>Machine Quilting on a Home Sewing Machine
Finding Space for Machine Quilting
How on earth will you maneuver that entire quilt sandwich through your sewing machine? Quilters have been challenged by this daunting task forever. That’s comforting to know if you are tackling machine quilting for the first time. Everyone finds their own way, something that works for them. The key is to either make the quilt area you are working with smaller, or to make your sewing area bigger. To make your quilt area smaller, you will need to baste and roll your quilt. After your quilt sandwich has been made, baste around all the edges, either with actual large basting stitches that are easily removed or with pins. Once the quilt is basted together, you can roll the sides of it inward to leave a smaller unrolled area in which to begin quilting. You can also make your quilt area smaller by “nesting.” Nesting is helpful when you are quilting within a block. Put the block you want to quilt in on under the needle of your sewing machine. Bunch up the fabric around the block to create a little nest. The area you will be sewing in will be flat, just like it should be. Your bunched up nest will create a boundary for your quilting. If you feel your fabric hesitate, don’t be alarmed. Simply stop the machine. Don’t move the fabric until you know your needle is down to hold it in position. Once the needle is in the fabric, slide the fabric around to another position, creating a new nest area. Finish your work in one nest, then move on to create another until the entire quilt is complete. You have several options when it comes to expanding your sewing space. If you have a portable machine, move it to a large table – the larger the better. Machines that are on a sewing table have an advantage because the sewing area is level with the table. You can invest in a fairly economical sewing table, then expand its sewing area quite easily. If you have a sewing table, there are several ways to expand your work area. Since most sewing arms are on the left of the machine, you will need to expand your sewing area to the back and to the left of the machine. This is easily done by adding more tables. Look around your house. Do you have any tables the same height (or nearly the same) as your sewing table? If so, place them either to the left or to the back of your machine to create more space. If you don’t have extra tables, consider buying portable card or buffet tables. They are affordably priced and easily located. Since the buffet tables tend to be longer and narrow, place it to the left of your sewing table. Wider card tables work well when placed at the back. If you have already tried quilting with your sewing machine, you will be surprised at how much help this extra space can give you. Machine quilting is so much easier when you don’t have to fight a quilt that’s pulling toward the floor as you try to sew. Adding space to your sewing table area does not have to be expensive. Maybe you even have a friend you can borrow a table or two from. Shop thrift stores for inexpensive tables. Many retailers offer them at discounted prices near holiday times, so keep an eye out for them then. Once you are able to limit the quilt area on which you will sew or increase the sewing area in which you have to work, you will find machine quilting can be less cumbersome. Something else that is helpful is to place a barrier around your table so your quilt won't hang down. When the quilt is hanging, it will be more difficult to feed through the needle for even quilting. One way to create a barrier is to put chairs around the table, the backs of the chairs against the table. That works as long as the back of the chair is higher than the table and will create a little wall around your table.
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren www.How-to-Quilt.com
©2009, Penny Halgren This article courtesy of http://www.How-To-Quilt.com. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.
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